Saturday, 6 April 2013

Nadeshiko League Third Round

With the roof closed due to bad weather, table topping INAC Kobe made no changes to their lineup for the visit of bottom side Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki, who brought in young Hazuki Yuki for the injured Kanjana Sung-Ngoen. Hazuki had scored last weekend to briefly level things up against NTV Beleza, only for the Takatsuki side to concede two late goals.

On five minutes Tanaka Yoko had the first shot on goal which was comfortably saved by Ono, and it is fair to say that in the opening fifteen minutes there was very little in the way of exciting goal chances. Goebel-Yanez charged down an Ono clearance in the 17th minute but the ricochet was unkind for the INAC forwards and the chance was lost. Over the next ten minutes the home side increased the tempo and created more chances for themselves though their finishing was quite poor by their own high standards and for the most part the Takatsuki defence kept their shape. At the other end Hazuki had their first shot on target though she didn't catch it well and it was no problem for Kaihori.

On 39 minutes the the breakthrough finally came for the champions as Tanaka Asuna headed in a Ji free kick from close range. While Ono was hardly to blame for the first goal, she gifted the second to INAC just before the half-time whistle when another free kick, this time from the right was knocked in and what looked an easily-saveable header from Minamiyama Chiaki was palmed weakly into the net to gve INAC Kobe what already looked to be an unassailable lead entering the second half.

Minamiyama should have had another just after the restart when she couldn't quite connect with a ball across the face of goal from Tanaka Yoko. Shortly after, following a foul on Kawasumi, INAC once again scored from a free kick, this time Sawa Homare headed in, while Ono will again feel she could have done better.

Tsuboi hit the crossbar for Takatsuki in the 75th minute which was the closest her side came to scoring. Hazuki had impressed with her energy and enthusiasm and for INAC Kobe Goebel-Yanez impressed with her skills on the ball, and hit the post with a good shot just before the end of the game.

A facile win for INAC Kobe then, and they moved three points clear ahead of the games on Sunday. Takatasuki remain rooted to the bottom without a single point and will need impressive performances all over the park and the return of their two injured Thai players if they are to remain in the top division next season.

Tanaka Mina scored twice as Beleza brushed aside Niigata to maintain their perfect start to the season. All four goals came in the second half, with Nakasato Yu and Iwashimizu Azusa also scoring to make it a very comfortable afternoon for the home side.

Belle were relieved to have their first win of the season, as Urawa slipped to their second consecutive defeat. Nakano Manami scored her first of the season to give the hosts the lead at half-time. Urawa fought back and with eight minutes remaining Kira Chinatsu equalised. Belle weren't satisfied with a point though, and in additional time Yokoyama Kumi scored the winning goal, with Miyama Aya assisting twice for Belle.

Vegalta Sendai overcame Iga in heavy rain in their first home game in the Nadeshiko League. Sendai took the lead through Takara Ryoko, coming in from the left side and scoring a surprising goal. In the second half following a scramble in the box Sakai Yuki made it 2-0 and Sendai move onto seven points from three games.

A late goal by Ogawa Shiho for JEF United broke Kibi's hearts as they looked to claim another precious point. A mistake by Yamane Erina in the JEF goal gave Takahashi Chiho the easiest of chances to put Kibi 1-0 up after twelve minutes. Fukusawa Risa equalised on 57 minutes and her pass to Ogawa saw her shoot expertly into the corner, as the visitors continue their impressive start to the season.